Skate



W. F. REACH SKATE Nov. 26, 1929.

Filed Feb. 14, 1929 Williq fig Patented Nov. 26, 1929 WILLIAM F. REACH, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO A. G. SPALDING & BROS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPGRATION OF NEW JERSEY SKATE Application fi1ed. February 14, 1929. Serial No. 339,860.

One object of the invention is to provide a skate adapted for use in hockey, in speed skating, or under any conditions where lightness and strength are essential.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skate embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4c is a perspective view of a preformed reinforcing member to be attached to the upper part of the skate runner and to which the foot supports are to be attached.

In these drawings 1 indicates the runner and 2 the sheet metal reinforcing member attached thereto along its upper part. The runner is of plain flat formation, except that it is thinner at its upper portion than at its lower part. It is free from ribs or any formation which would interfere with its formation expeditiously by hot rolling or by cold rolling. By a hot or acold rolling process this substantially flat blade can be formed to close standards at little expense.

Along the upper portion of the runner there is attached the sheet metal reinforcing member 2 of substantially T shape in cross section, with its sides 2 slightly spaced apart and embracing the upper portion of the runner 1. The sheet metal member is upset in close formation as to its upper or head portion so that the lateral flanges 3 thereof are made up of closely disposed layers of metal presenting strong, stiff edge portions of the T shaped head. This preformed T shaped member is fixed to the runner by any suitable means, such as riveting the downwardly extending sides or flanges 2 to the upper thinner portion of the runner. Spot welding may also be used, or soldering.

on line 2-2 of is a cross section on line 3-3 of The foot supports 4 are hollow sheet metal members of substantially inverted frustoconical form. They have flanges at their lower ends which reach under the T shaped sheet metal rail or member 2. These flanges have substantially horizontal portions '5 which lie directly against the horizontal under faces of the T shaped head of the reinforcing bar and vertical extensions 5 lie against the vertical flanges of the T shaped member to which they may be secured by soldering, welding, or in other ways, such as riveting. It will be observed that the upper side of the sheet metal T shaped bar 2 is slightly rounded or arched, whereas under side is substantially horizontal. The lower portions of the foot supports conform to these shapes. As willbe noticed, the foot supports have their flanges 5, 5 bent sharply to conform to the T shaped reinforcing rail or bar, thus contributing to stiffness and strength of the attached parts, and at the fore and rear portions of each foot support there are short portions 5 of the flanges which are slightly arched and restupon the upper curved or arched portion of the T the shaped rail or bar. The foot supports are provided with suitable flanges 6 for receiving the foot plates 7 when desired. These foot supports or standards are reinforced by ribs or corrugations 8 stamped from the sheet metal, extending vertically and under the lower flanged portions thereof, so that not only are these supports stiffened vertically along their main body portions, but also at their lower flanged portions, where they embrace the T shaped head of the bar or rail 2 attached to the skate runner, so that in addition to the stiffness derived from sharp- 1y bending the flanges 5, 5 stiffness and strength is derived from the corrugations 8,

which are carried down to near the extreme end of the flange 5 The construction above described lends itself to the economical, expeditious and accurate formation of the skate with all the strength, accompanied with lightness, neces sary in a racing skate, or in a skate subjected to severe strains, in playing hockey or in stunt skating.

Because the runner is of substantially plain formation, that is constructed in the form. of a plain bar, it can be readily rolled, hot or cold, can be ground to refine its dimensions and can be readily straightened if it becomes slightly bent in tempering. Furthermore, the T-shaped member of sheet metal, hardened and tempered, and thereafter applied to the runner, will add its stifl nessto. the skate and supply any degree of this characteristic which the skate otherwise might lack by'reasonof' softening the upper part of the runner for straightening purposes.

The hollow cup shaped foot supports can be applied to the reinforcing T shaped sheetmetal bar either beforeor after the latter i applied to the skate runner.

.The construction described 'also c0ntrib utes tothe high polish nickel finish demanded in'a skate of this type. -This high'polish fin ish may be secured because the runner is of the flat blade type, as this lends itself readily to. a high-polishby machine. The reinforcing bar being made of bright sheet steel, does not require this finishing operation.

The skate may be lightened materially by forming the upper portion of the runner with a series of openingsor slots 9. These will be hidden by the flanges: ofv the reinforcing rail or bar, which reach down over them at either s1de.

I claim having sheet metal walls individually bent sharply about said edges and against said horizontal under faces, and with flanges sharply bent and lying against and aflixed to the depending flanges of the reinforcing'bar, substantially as described.

I In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM F. REACH.

1. Askatecomprisinga runner, a substantially Tshaped reinforcing bar of sheet metal extending along its upper part having depending flanges embracing and attached to the stud upper portion of the runner, and 7 having its. head portion provided with closely donbl'ed'walls forming lateral edges and sub-. stantially horizontal under faces, andfoot supportshaving sheet metal walls individually bent sharply about said edges and against said horizontal under faces, and with flanges sharply bent and lying against andaliixed to the dependingyflanges of the reinforcing bar, substantially as described.

A. skate accordingto claim 1 in which the runner is in the form of a plain bar from end to end, the upper part being thinner than the lower part.

A. skate according to claim 1 in which therunner is perforated along its upper porplied along the upper portion of the runner, saidreinforcing. bar having depending flanges "embracing and attached tothe said upper portion of the runner, andvhaving its head portionprovided with closely doubled Walls forming lateral edges and substantially horizontal under faces, and foot supports 

